Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sparse differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of sparse are meager, scanty, scant, skimpy, and spare. While all these words mean "falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable," sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

When might meager be a better fit than sparse?

Although the words meager and sparse have much in common, meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency.

a meager portion of meat

In what contexts can scant take the place of sparse?

The words scant and sparse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

When is it sensible to use scanty instead of sparse?

While in some cases nearly identical to sparse, scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

When could skimpy be used to replace sparse?

The meanings of skimpy and sparse largely overlap; however, skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

Where would spare be a reasonable alternative to sparse?

In some situations, the words spare and sparse are roughly equivalent. However, spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sparse Though data is sparser here, there’s growing evidence that offshore wind farms, port constructions, and subsea pipeline projects use freelance engineers for niche tasks. Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025 At the trough of the solar cycle, sunspots are sparse, and subsequent solar flares and CMEs — which typically originate from sunspot regions — can be absent for months at a time. Ryan French, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2025 The narrative, though sparse, is an excellent scaffold for Jenkin. Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025 And the words, while sparse, move together with pauses and spaces to form a musical, entrancing pace or rhythm, one that is distinct from everyday speech and which the reader must be willing to follow. Brian Robert Moore september 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sparse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparse
scarce
Adjective
  • Treat storage as a scarce public good.
    Phil De Luna, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Water is scarce, rationed to just three hours a day in some districts, and packs of stray dogs roam the city.
    Yegor Mostovshikov, The Dial, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sparse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparse. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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